Governor Babagana Zulum, has called for the revival of the Sambisa forest which was devastated by Boko Haram insurgency.
Zulum revealed this on Thursday when a Nigerian delegation visit to the United Nations High-Level Segment Roundtable led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawan, and the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, in New York.
He said, “Borno State has been significantly impacted by the crisis of insecurity caused by Boko Haram insurgency which has led to widespread displacement of communities, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of livelihoods.
“The conflict has also exacerbated environmental degradation, including deforestation and loss of biodiversity in our major forest, Sambisa Forest, further exacerbating the vulnerabilities of our region.”
He said “The loss of forest cover has resulted in soil erosion, reduced water availability, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts.”
Zulum lamented that Lake Chad, which was a vital source of water and livelihood for millions of people in the region, has shrunk due to a direct consequence of climate change resulting from the incessant destruction of forests such as Sambisa.
The governor said the deforestation of the State was caused by population growth, agricultural expansion, unsustainable land use practices, the need for energy and the impact of the conflict.
He said efforts were going to rehabilitate and restore the region through community engagements, monitoring and evaluation and collaboration and partnership as measures to save the forest devastated by the activities of terrorists.
Sambisa Forest, lying in the southeastern part of Borno State, has been the major enclave of the terrorists.